Recent OC grad installs solar power for widow in Philippines

Friday, Jul 31, 2009

We received this inspiring note from OC alumnus Salvador Cariaga, missionary in the Philippines, about the work of a recent OC grad, Ryan Jones.

Ryan Jones is a recent graduate of Electrical Engineering at Oklahoma Christian University. Immediately after graduation, he went to the Philippines to do summer mission work with us. He did everything we asked him to do except dance. One of the things he did while he was there was install and wire a solar panel for a widow who lived in the woods.

The widow, Estrella, is one of our hardest working goat raisers. She lives in the middle of a wooded area, far from her neighbors. Estrella is raising a teen age son and four grand children. Through goat and vermi raising, Estrella is fast becoming self-sufficient. This year, she is paying for her son’s education while we are helping her grandkids. Soon, she hopes to take care of the rest through our livelihood program.

Thanks to Ryan, Estrella now has electricity. The children living with her can now study their lessons at night. Special thanks to Loren Stroup, of Fort Worth, for donating the solar panel.